Director, Noncommunicable Diseases

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The department is responsible for global leadership, coordination, development of normative work, technical products including guidance and guidelines as well as technical support to countries to reduce premature mortality and morbidity from NCDs, burden of sensory impairments and oral health through prevention, early detection, screening treatment and integrated service delivery, surveillance, rehabilitation, monitoring and research. The Department also leads WHO’s work on disability as well the DG Flagship Initiative on Cervical Cancer elimination. The work is being done through a PHC approach and through including NCDs and programs into UHC. The department provides overall coordination and brings together the work on NCD prevention, control and rehabilitation from across the departments and from the three levels of the organization. It coordinates reports to the WHO and UN governing bodies and is the main interlocutor on NCDs. The department assists and supports regions and countries in their efforts to provide a country-centered, concerted and coordinated action to strengthen health systems to respond to NCDs, oral diseases and sensory impairment. The department also ensures linkages between primary and secondary prevention using technical packages and harnessing innovation and use oftechnology including Be Healthy Be Mobile and through the Technical advisory group on Innovation and Research for NCDs. The Department leads the work on NCDs in humanitarian crises and emergencies in close cooperation with the emergency division. The Department has the mandate to lead the preparatory process towards the 4th High level meeting on NCDs in September 2025 and is working to close the gaps in the NCDs agenda while informing Member States to set a vision for the next decades through the political Declaration. A series of meetings and initiatives is leading up to this meeting: technical and Ministerial meeting in the SIDS countries with technical assistance, Global meeting on emergencies and NCDs, the second Dialogue on NCDs and Financing as well as programmatic global meeting on Oral health and CRD regional consultations will happen in 2024 and 2025.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Leads the Department in providing global leadership on NCDs, sensory functions, oral health, rehabilitation and Disability and continue advocacy and awareness raising in these areas.
• Provides and develops as well as leads the work on monitoring and reporting on the same areas.
• Technical products and expertise to Member States and other Stakeholders with guidance and technical data required for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and programmes with impact at country level.
• Directs and leads overall establishment and development of the Department’s evidence based policies and strategies for roll out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation.
• Provides the overall leadership, management, development and accountability, of the Department in delivering its objectives through managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources to optimize the department deliverables and mandate.
• Provides senior level technical advice and expertise to Senior Management in the area of assigned responsibilities in order to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area.
• Oversees the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the Department’s area of work to ensure development of key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to ensure optimal performance of Department deliverables.
• Serves as the scientific/technical reference among UN Agencies and other key players in the respective areas.
• Promotes the integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department’s programme area of work.
• Builds strong partnerships and fosters consensus building with External Partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donor, civil society and people with lived experience and cutting edge research institutions and other stakeholders in the subject area to politically position the technical area of work and implementation into national and/or global policies.
• Represents the Organization and Department area of work in a diverse array of global fora to position WHO as a leader in the global health community.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced level university degree in medicine, public health or fields related to the portfolio of the department.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields. Specialized training in noncommunicable diseases.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management and leadership of significant programmes for one or more of the following diseases and conditions: noncommunicable diseases, sensory impairments, (including deafness and blindness), Oral Health as well as disability and rehabilitation. Extensive experience providing senior level advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as extensive experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable: Experience in country/field operations, monitoring and evaluation, operational and up-stream research. Several years of solid experience in the management of complex public-private partnerships and multisectoral approaches. Experience in delivering results in the UN system.

Skills

• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.
• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.
• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.
• Globally respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in preventing, managing, control and surveillance of one or more of the following diseases and conditions: Non-communicable diseases, sensory impairments, Oral Health, rehabilitation, Disability, population-based surveys, monitoring and reporting at various levels and including in developing countries.
• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of broad multidisciplinary public health programmes, including the implementation of disease management programmes.
• Outstanding knowledge and technical expertise (basic science, treatment and care and epidemiology) in one or more of the following diseases and conditions: noncommunicable diseases, sensory impairments, Oral Health.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Driving the Organization to a Successful Future
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 117,280 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 8581 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
• Special selection procedures may apply.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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